Shares of the Merillville, Ind.-based energy company hit a 52-week high of $24.73 on Monday. The stock's 52-week low of $17.95 was set on Aug. 9.

NiSource's stock trades at an estimated price-to-earnings ratio for next year of 16.3X; the average for gas distribution companies is 18.39X. For comparison, Spectra Energy ( SE) has a lower forward P/E of 15.59X; Oneok's ( OKE) forward P/E is 19.94X.

Nine of the 11 analysts who cover NiSource rate at it hold. One analyst gives the stock a buy rating and another rates it at sell.

Analyst comment:

"We believe 2012 will have multiple positive catalysts for the shares including raising the dividend and establishing a payout policy, additional infrastructure opportunities in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays, and incremental detail around the transmission pipe modernization opportunity," KeyBanc Capital Markets analysts wrote in a March 21 report.

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Danaher

Shares of the diversified industrial company hit a 52-week high Monday of $56.45. The stock's 52-week low of $39.34 was set on Oct. 4.

Danaher's stock trades at a forward P/E of 15.24X; the average for diversified industrials companies is 12.99X. For comparison, General Electric ( GE) and 3M ( MMM) have lower forward P/Es of 11.37X and 12.92X, respectively.

Nineteen of the 24 analyst who cover Danaher rate it at buy. Four analysts give the stock a hold rating and one rates it at sell.

Shares of Hubbell hit a 52-week high of $80.45. The stock's 52-week low of $46.81 was set on Oct. 4.

Hubbell's stock trades at a forward P/E of 14.59X; the average for electrical components is 13.64X. For comparison, Jabil ( JBL) and Avnet ( AVT) both have lower forward P/Es of 8.42X and 8.04X, respectively.

Seven of the 10 analysts who cover Hubbell rated it buy; three analysts gave the stock a hold rating.

Analyst comment:

"HUBB reported an acquisition pipeline with more actionable opportunities than ever (maintaining bias to bolt-ons), and noted orders are at or above expectations (broad-based), and based on current trends we would anticipate 2012 revenue growth more at the high end of 4-6% guidance," Oppenheimer analysts wrote in a March 1 report. "HUBB is clearly increasingly focused on international growth opportunities, anchored by Power Systems' manufacturing facilities in Brazil and China, and Electrical Systems' engineering and back-office services center in India."

TheStreet Ratings gives Hubbell an A grade with a buy rating and $89.70 price target.

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Textron

Shares of the Providence, R.I.-based light aircraft and industrial company hit a 52-week high of $28.98 on Monday. The stock's 52-week low of $14.66 was set on Aug. 26.

Textron's stock trades at a forward P/E of 12.29X; the average for aerospace companies is 13.42X. For comparison, United Technologies and Boeing ( BA) both have higher forward P/Es of 12.53X and 13.33X.

Ten of the 16 analysts who cover Textron rate it at buy. Five analysts rate the stock at hold and one gives it a sell rating.

Analyst comment:

Of the joint venture between the company's Cessna unit and Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Deutsche Bank analysts wrote in a March 23 report. "Positives of the deal include the obvious access to China markets through local manufacturing, the potential for lower cost (or at least more local to use) manufacturing on a platform(s) to be co‐produced in China, and the sharing of development burden for a new bizjet (which be larger than what Cessna currently offers and incremental to the Cessna line‐up). The obvious risk is the establishment of another competitor (of which Cessna would have minority control) in the business/general aviation market that is to some extent already over‐subscribed."

Shares of Southport, Conn.-based gun maker hit a 52-week high Monday of $51.33. The stock's 52-week low of $18.65 was set on June 16.

Sturm Ruger shares trade at a forward P/E of 17.84X; the average for defense companies is 13.03X.

Two of the three analysts who cover Sturm Ruger rate it at buy; one analyst rates it at hold.

Analyst comment:

"We continue to believe that the major categories benefiting from strong demand are concealed carry/personal protection along with the tactical rifle category," KeyBanc Capital Markets analysts wrote in a March 21 report. "We maintain our BUY rating on SWHC and our HOLD ratings on RGR and CAB."